MANILA, Philippines — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag challenged Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to attend Monday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing and personally question him regarding the ongoing flood control scandal investigation.
Speaking during a roundtable discussion on Friday, Matibag said he would appear before what he described as the “proper” Blue Ribbon Committee and was prepared to answer any questions from Cayetano.
The challenge comes amid a dispute over the legitimacy of Senate leadership changes made on June 3, which saw Senator Sherwin Gatchalian recognized by a new majority bloc as acting Senate President and Senator Erwin Tulfo taking over as chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee from Senator Pia Cayetano.
Matibag maintained that the committee led by Tulfo is the legitimate Blue Ribbon Committee and said he would only attend hearings conducted by its recognized leadership.
The rift between Matibag and Cayetano intensified following recent controversies involving attempts to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa and conflicting accounts surrounding a shooting incident inside the Senate complex last month. #